“Giv’on”…A new prison to harass detained children
In conjunction with the random arrests against dozens of Jerusalemite children, the occupation’s prisons administration recently opened a new section for minor prisoners named “Giv’on” prison in the city of Al-Ramleh. It is a new prison that lacks the most basic necessities of life designated to harass Palestinian prisoners. Sixty Palestinian prisoner aged between 14-17 years are currently living under harsh conditions in “Giv’on” prison. Prisoners who have only been detained for few days are currently subject to bad treatment, beating, isolation and humiliation. Amjad Abu Asab, head of Jerusalemites detainees and prisoners families committee, explained that the occupation authorities opened Giv’on prison for minor prisoners few weeks ago knowing that the prison was allocated for African who illegally cross the borders. He added that the prisons’ administration transferred minor prisoner from Al-Maskobyeh, Megiddo, Hasharon and Ofar prisons to Giv’on prison including 36 Jerusalemites and 20 prisoners from the West Bank and 4 others from the 1948 lands. He also explained that Giv’on prison has 9 rooms where each of them is 24 square meters and resides six inmates. Suffering of minor prisoners… Abu Asab pointed out that some prisoners were visited by their lawyers in the past few days and talked about their daily suffering. They complained of ill-treatment and harassment by the prison’s administration. Their section was also raided 4 times in the past two weeks in which the last raid was at the end of October; 7 prisoners were subject to beating, harassment during the raid and the Jerusalemite prisoner Ahmad Rweidi was isolated. Blankets that do not protect against the winter cold… Abu Asab added that detainees are complaining about the blankets they received. They are old blackest filled with humidity and do not protect them from the winter cold at the same time when their families are prevented from brining clothes and blankets to their children. The windows also have a 5-cm gap which makes it even colder inside the rooms; they can’t close the windows and have no choice but to suffer from brutal coldness and dust. Abu Asab said: “Giv’on prison lacks the most basic necessities of life. It is an old section with very small rooms and needs rehabilitation.” Bad food “quality and quantity” In terms of food served to prisoners I Giv’on prison, it is very bad in quality and quantity. Abu Asab explained that some of the food was served raw. He added that the prisons’ administration confiscated the water heater from the prisoners and the prison lacks the tile used to prepare food and also lacks hot water. Few days ago, they were allowed to buy from the cantina- a place where prisoners can buy their essential needs. Talking about the restroom, it is inside the room and is a “hole in the ground”. The room doesn’t have any cleaning materials to clean the “restroom” after using it; minor prisoners are also forced to hand-wash their clothes. Abu Asab also explained that there no adult prisoners in Giv’on prison to take care and organize the daily affairs of minor prisoners as most of them are unable to deal with the prison’s administration. In the first days when they were transferred to the prison, some of them were assaulted and others were isolated. Sanctions… Abu Asab pointed out that many prisoners who were transferred to Giv’on prison were subject to beating or isolation during the first few days including:
- Minor Ahmad Rweidi: Recently isolated, currently in solitary. According to the prison’s administration, he is punished for two weeks and a fine will be imposed on him and he will be banned from family visits.
- 14-year old Hamdi Rajabi: Was isolated for three days under the pretext of objecting to the type of food served to him; he was served “fish and schnitzel” that were still raw. He was also beaten.
- Prisoner Hamzeh Assaileh: Threatened to be isolated after requesting to be accompanied by adult prisoners. The interrogators also accused him of belonging to Hamas movement.
- Prisoner Rateb Haymooni: Currently in a difficult psychological condition and has lost 14 kg of weight.
